Positive latching means for container clamping rings



POSITIVE LATCHING MEANS FOR CONTAINER CLAMPING RINGS Nov. 10, 1964 C. N. RocKwELL Filed 0017. 1. 1962 lHIH Ilih..

United States Patent O l" Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 227,297 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-256.69)

This invention relates to a positive latching means for container clamping rings. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved latching means for split clamping rings of the kind described in prior Patents 2,579,975 and 2,864,638. Such split clamping rings are commonly employed for vreleasably securing metal covers to the tops of tiberboard drums, and they can also be employed for securing other forms of closures to containers.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a latching means for a split clamping ring which permits the latched or unlatched condition of the latching means to be readily ascertained by visual inspection. Another object is to provide a latching means of the character described which is effective to hold the split clamping ring in its contracted or locked position even though the container is subjected to considerable rough handling.

`A still further object is to provide a latching means which FIGURE l illustrating the clamping ring in open or unlatched condition.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the device of FIGURES 1 and 2 applied to a container for securing the lid thereon.

Further objects and advantages willl FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewl l Tuming now to a detailed description of the drawings,`

the number 10 generally designates a split clamping ring. As indicated more clearly in FIGURE 2, the ring is severed or divided at 11, but is otherwise usually of integral or unitary construction to provide a cylindrical band. In the illustration given, ring 10 has a U-shaped crosssection, thereby providing a generally vertical body portion 12 providing an outer face 13, an inwardly-extending upper flange 14, vand an inwardly-extending lower ange 15. For thepurpose of the present invention, the form or shape of thev upper flange 14 is not of great importance. It is preferred, however, to have outer face 13 disposed substantially at right angles to lower flange 15, as shown more clearly in FIGURES 4 and 7.

As is known in the art, lever means is provided for expanding and contracting ring 10. This includes a lever arm designated generally by the number 16 which is pivotally connected at one end to ring 10, and there is also provided a link 17 which is pivotally connected to ring 14 on the other side of division 11 and is, also pivotally connected to an intermediate point on lever arm 16,

' be readily ascertained by visual inspection.

3,156,494 Patented Nov. 10, 1964 as shownY particularly in FIGURE 2. Since this general construction is well-known in the art, it is not believed it will be necessary to further describe it herein.

In accordance with the present invention, arm 16 is provided with a body 18 which conforms generally in curvature to ring 10. Arm 16 also provides an inwardly extending ilange 19 as seen in FIGURE 8. Arm 16 is swingable to a locking position in close proximity to ring 10 when it is contracted. FIGURE 1 illustrates the contracted locking position and FIGURE 2 the open rexpanded position. In the locking position, as shown more clearly in -FIGURE 8, the lever arm body 18 is opposite the ring outer face 13 and the lever arm flange 19 overlies the ring flange 15.

In accordance with the present invention, the free end of lever arm 16 is provided with a depressed flattened locking portion 20. The inside surface of locking portion 20 bears against ring outer face 13 when arm 16 is in locking position. For reasons which will subsequently be explained, lever arm flange 19 terminates short 0f the locking portion 20, preferably being spaced therefrom, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 6.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention, it is important that the side of locking portion 20 adjacent the end of flange 19 provide a latching tab 21 projecting downwardly below lever flange 19. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 7, the tip end of latching tabv 21 provides an inwardly offset portion 22 which functions as a positive latch in the manner which will be described below. l

For the purpose of cooperating with locking portion 20, there is provided a latching arm designated generally by the number 23. Latching arm 23 includes a vertical body portion 24,v as indicated in FIGURES 5 and 6, and an inwardly extending flange 25 on the lower side thereof, as shown Amore clearly in FIGURES 2 and 7. One end of latching arm body 24 is pivotally mounted at 26 (FIG- URES 5 and 6) on the outer face 13 of ring 10 adjacent the location of the free end of the lever arm in the locking position. As illustrated particularly in FIGURES 5 and 6, latching arm 23 is swingable from its latching position (FIGURE 6) with its body 24 opposite ring outer face 13 and its ilange 25 overlying ring ilange 15 to an open position (FIGURE 5) with latching arm 23 extending downwardly from ring 10.

The latching arm body 24 provides an outwardly Oifset retainer portion 27 which is arranged to slide over the lever arm locking portion 20 as the latching arm is moved toward its latching position and to hold the locking portion against the ring outer face 13 in the latching position.

' and provides an-outer edge 28 (FIGURES 5 and.7)

which slides under latching tab 21 as the latching arm '23 is moved towards its latching position. The inwardly offset portion 22 of the latching tab snaps over the outer edge 28 as the latching arm reaches its latching position, as shown more clearly in FIGURE 7. With this construction the secure latching of the clamping ring is assured, and the fact that the ring is latched can For example, it can be determined by viewing FIGURE 6 that the clamping ring is securely latched.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings, the latching arm flange 25 extends beyond latching tab 21 and provides a pry portion 29 (FIGURE 6) which extendsV outwardly beyond ring face 13, as indicated in FIGURE 7. It is also preferred that lever arm body 18 be cut out in an area 30 (FIG- URES 5 and 6) immediately above pry portion 29 in the latched position. With this construction, the unlatching of the clamping ring can be facilitated by the insertion of a screwdriver tip or the like through the cut out 30 and applying downward pressure to pry portion 29. Thus, the latching means can provide secure retaining of the clamping ring during rough handling of the container, while still being readily opened with the use of a simple tool.

FIGURE 4 shows the clamping ring 10 in contracted position wherein it secures a cover 31 to the top of a berboard container 32, the upper portion of the container being provided with a metal rim 33 in accordance with the usual practice.

If desired, opposed wire tie tabs can be provided for the attachment of a tie or seal when the clamping ring is in its contracted and latched position. In the illustration given, the tie tab 3`4 having an opening therethrough extends downwardly from the outer end of lever arm flange 25, as shown in FIGURE 2, and a similar tie tab 35 providing an opening therethrough extends downwardly from the adjacent end of lever arm flange 19, as also shown in FIGURE 2.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment thereof and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications in the constructions described herein can be made without departing from the distinctive features of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a combination including a split clamping ring providing a generally vertical outer face and an inwardlyextending lower flange, lever means for expanding and contracting said ring including a lever arm pivotally connected at one end to said ring, said lever arm having a body conforming generally in curvature to said ring and providing an inwardly-extending llange on the lower side thereof, said lever armbeing swingable to a locking position in close proximity to said ring when it is contracted with said lever arm body opposite said ring outer face and said lever arm flange overlying said ring ange, said lever arm having a free end providing a depressed attened locking portion with the inside surface thereof bearing against said ring outer face in said locking position, said lever ange terminating short of said locking portion, and a latching arm having a vertical body portion and an inwardly-extending ange on the lower side thereof, one end of said latching arm body being pivotally mounted on said ring adjacent the location of said lever free end in said locking position, said latching arm being swingable from its latching position with its body opposite said ring outer face and its ange overlying said ring ange to an open position with said latching arm extending downwardly from said ring, said latching arm body having an outwardly offset retainer portion arranged to slide over said lever arm locking portion as said latching arm is moved towards its latching position and to hold said locking portion against the ring outer face in said latching position, the improvement comprising a latching tab provided by said locking portion and projecting downwardly from the side of said locking portion adjacent the end of said flange, the tip end of said latching tab having an inwardly offset portion, and said latching arm ange extending beyond said retainer portion and providing an outer edge sliding under said latching tab as said latching arm is moved towards its latching position, the inwardly offset portion of said latching tab snapping over said outer edge as said latching tab reaches its latching position, whereby the secure latching of said clamping ring can be readily ascertained by visual inspection,

2. The imporvement of claim l wherein said latching arm flange extends beyond said latching tab and is provided at the free end thereof with a pry portion extending outwardly beyond said ring face, said lever arm body being cut-out in an area above said pry portion, whereby the unlatching of said clamping ring can be facilitated by the insertion of a screwdriver tip or the like through said cut-out area and applying downward pressure to said pry portion.

3. In a combination including a split clamping ring providing a generally vertical outer face and an inwardly-extending lower flange, lever means for expanding and contracting said ring including a lever arm pivotally connected at one end to said ring, said lever arm having a body conforming generally in curvature to said ring and providing an inwardly-extending ange on the lower side thereof, said lever arm being swingable to a locking position in close proximity to said ring when it is contracted with said lever arm body opposite said ring outer face and said lever arm flange overlying said ring flange, said lever arm having a free end providing a locking portion with the inside surface thereof bearing against said ring outer face in said locking position, said lever flange terminating short of said locking portion, the tip end of said latching tab having an inwardly offset portion, and a latching arm having a vertical body portion and an inwardly-extending flange on the lower side thereof, one end of said latching arm body being pivotally mounted on said ring adjacent the location of said lever free end in said locking position, said latching arm being swingable from its latching position with its body opposite said ring outer face and its flange overlying said ring iiange to an open position with said latching arm extending downwardly from said ring, said latching arm body having a retainer portion arranged to slide over said lever arm locking portion as said latching arm is moved towards its latching position and to hold said locking portion against the ring outer face in said latching position, the improvement comprising a latching tab provided by said locking portion and projecting downwardly from the side of said locking portion adjacent the end of said flange, the tip end of said latching tab having an inwardly offset portion, and said latching arm ange extending beyond said retainer portion and providing an outer edge sliding under said latching tab as said latching arm is moved towards its latching position, the inwardly offset portion of said latching tab snapping over said outer edge as said latching arm reaches its latching position, said latching arm flange extending beyond said latching tab and being provided at the free end thereof with a pry portion extending outwardly beyond said ring face, said lever arm body being cutout in an area above said pry portion for the insertion of a screwdriver tip or the like to release said retainer edge from said latching tab offset portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,864,638 l2/58 Nelson et al. 292-256.69 2,966,378 12/ 60 Carpenter et al 292-256.69 3,070,397 12/62 Rodish 292-256.69 3,103,293 9/63 Beutler 292--256.69 X

M. HENSGN WOGD, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A COMBINATION INCLUDING A SPLIT CLAMPING RING PROVIDING A GENERALLY VERTICAL OUTER FACE AND AN INWARDLYEXTENDING LOWER FLANGE, LEVER MEANS FOR EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING SAID RING INCLUDING A LEVER ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID RING, SAID LEVER ARM HAVING A BODY CONFORMING GENERALLY IN CURVATURE TO SAID RING AND PROVIDING AN INWARDLY-EXTENDING FLANGE ON THE LOWER SIDE THEREOF, SAID LEVER ARM BEING SWINGABLE TO A LOCKING POSITION IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID RING WHEN IT IS CONTRACTED WITH SAID LEVER ARM BODY OPPOSITE SAID RING OUTER FACE AND SAID LEVER ARM FLANGE OVERLYING SAID RING FLANGE, SAID LEVER ARM HAVING A FREE END PROVIDING A DEPRESSED FLATTENED LOCKING PORTION WITH THE INSIDE SURFACE THEREOF BEARING AGAINST SAID RING OUTER FACE IN SAID LOCKING POSITION, SAID LEVER FLANGE TERMINATING SHORT OF SAID LOCKING PORTION, AND A LATCHING ARM HAVING A VERTICAL BODY PORTION AND AN INWARDLY-EXTENDING FLANGE ON THE LOWER SIDE THEREOF, ONE END OF SAID LATCHING ARM BODY BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID RING ADJACENT THE LOCATION OF SAID LEVER FREE END IN SAID LOCKING POSITION, SAID LATCHING ARM BEING SWINGABLE FROM ITS LATCHING POSITION WITH ITS BODY OPPOSITE SAID RING OUTER FACE AND ITS FLANGE OVERLYING SAID RING FLANGE TO AN OPEN POSITION WITH SAID LATCHING ARM EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID RING, SAID LATCHING ARM BODY HAVING AN OUTWARDLY OFFSET RETAINER PORTION ARRANGED TO SLIDE OVER SAID LEVER ARM LOCKING PORTION AS SAID LATCHING ARM IS MOVED TOWARDS ITS LATCHING POSITION AND TO HOLD SAID LOCKING PORTION AGAINST THE RING OUTER FACE IN SAID LATCHING POSITION, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A LATCHING TAB PROVIDED BY SAID LOCKING PORTION AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE SIDE OF SAID LOCKING PORTION ADJACENT THE END OF SAID FLANGE, THE TIP END OF SAID LATCHING TAB HAVING AN INWARDLY OFFSET PORTION, AND SAID LATCHING ARM FLANGE EXTENDING BEYOND SAID RETAINER PORTION AND PROVIDING AN OUTER EDGE SLIDING UNDER SAID LATCHING TAB AS SAID LATCHING ARM IS MOVED TOWARDS ITS LATCHING POSITION, THE INWARDLY OFFSET PORTION OF SAID LATCHING TAB SNAPPING OVER SAID OUTER EDGE AS SAID LATCHING TAB REACHES ITS LATCHING POSITION, WHEREBY THE SECURE LATCHING OF SAID CLAMPING RING CAN BE READILY ASCERTAINED BY VISUAL INSPECTION. 